Anna Bowen Appointed to Lead the Agri Academy Senior Programme for 2025
Alongside her freelance work, Anna works as a farm business consultant for The Andersons Centre. She also manages a 300-cow spring block calving dairy herd in Ceredigion. While her specialism is dairy, she has vast experience in different fields and is excited to be able to share good practice from other sectors with the Agri Academy programme. She's previously worked within a fresh produce company, trading into the London markets via importers in Rotterdam and UK growers, the red meat sector as a beef and sheep geneticist for Signet Breeding Services to name a few.
Her success in building and managing her thriving Joint Venture dairy enterprise further fuels her enthusiasm for supporting the development of others in the industry. Anna has successfully managed to build the business from the foundation and has been able to overcome challenges and gain business resilience which she is eager to share through the tailored programme.
Some of Anna's more recent achievements include being awarded the RABDF Dairy Industry Woman of the Year in 2024 as well as proudly becoming a trustee for the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust in 2023. Through a Nuffield scholarship, she had the opportunity to travel to 11 countries and gather innovative ideas from across the globe. These experiences have further strengthened Anna's extensive UK and international connections within the agricultural industry, links she is confident will further support successful applicants.
Anna said:
'Farming Connect has been a key part of my consultancy career. I'm eager to connect people, facilitate the sharing of ideas across different sectors, and explore exciting business opportunities together.'
Anna is enthusiastic to begin her freelance role in delivering the programme. A firm believer in 'Controlling the controllable,' Anna is eager to share effective strategies for successfully navigating business challenges to achieving positive outcomes as well as bringing industry leading speakers to aspire and challenge as part of her programme.
Anna envisions a positive and collaborative experience for successful candidates. She aims to foster a supportive environment where participants can learn from each other and benefit from opportunities to travel overseas and gain insights from international agricultural practices.
Agri Academy 2025 applications (Senior & Junior, 16-21) close on 20 May, 2025. Visit Farming Connect website for information on eligibility criteria, information on what this year's programme includes, and to apply.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
24-07-2025
- ITV News
Newry sandwich firm's multi-million pound investment creates jobs and upskills workforce
Some 130 jobs are to be created at a sandwich firm in Co Down. Deli Lites is planning a £12.8 million investment to automate the company's production and broaden its product range. The move is being supported by Invest NI's Agri-Food Investment Initiative, while a further £6 million investment by the company is to help upskill the existing workforce and create 130 jobs in Warrenpoint. The new jobs include senior positions such as a new chief commercial officer. Deli Lites was established in 1998 by husband and wife Brian and Jackie Reid and supplies fresh gourmet sandwiches and food-to-go products to convenience stores, supermarkets, major coffee chains and international airlines. Its customers include Applegreen, Costa Coffee, Aer Lingus and American Airlines. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald hailed the investment. 'The north's food and drink processing sector is a true local success story, with latest statistics showing that it generates £6.5 billion in sales and supports over 25,500 jobs across our towns and countryside,' she said. 'This investment will unlock significant growth opportunities for Deli Lites in this exciting sector. 'Increased capacity and new automated equipment will boost productivity and enable it to expand its fresh and frozen ranges, growing its sales in Britain and Ireland, and open up additional export markets. 'With 78% of our food and drink sold outside the north, this industry showcases the quality, innovation, and global appeal of what we produce right here at home. 'The creation of 130 new jobs in Warrenpoint, which will help leverage almost £10 million in wages and salaries across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area by 2027, is also good news as we work to deliver a more regionally balanced economy.' Brian Reid, chief executive at Deli Lites, said: 'Since our beginnings over 30 years ago, we are now an all-Ireland business with export sales growing in international markets. 'We've always been a trailblazer in our sector, shown when we became the first sandwich maker in the UK and Ireland to achieve B Corp certification.' Jackie Reid, co-founder and CSO at Deli Lites, said: 'Bringing even more products to our snacking and convenience range and investing in production and automation will significantly increase our capacity and customer reach. 'We're delighted to be growing our team in Warrenpoint to bring further expertise into the business and help us achieve our vision, to transform how the world experiences food on the move.' Grainne Moody, director of food and drink at Invest NI, said the project builds on its previous support for the firm to develop its product range for the European market. 'Its success has positioned the company to become a key supplier for the global airlines sector,' she said. 'This new project will increase innovation and boost productivity by transforming labour-intensive processes and increasing digitalisation.
Belfast Telegraph
24-07-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Co Down food manufacturer plans 130 new jobs as part of £19m investment
Deli Lites is set to spend £19m increasing automation, broadening product ranges and upskilling the current workforce, along with hiring new staff. The company is also aiming to reduce food waste by as much as 50%, expand its heat-to-eat product range, and grow its business in supplying food to airlines. Of the overall investment, £12.8m will be spent on increasing automation, while £6m will be used for upskilling current staff and hiring others. The investment was announced during an event at Deli Lites' Warrenpoint facility on Thursday, which was attended by the Economy Minister. Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: 'The North's food and drink processing sector is a true local success story, with latest statistics showing that it generates £6.5bn in sales and supports over 25,500 jobs across our towns and countryside. 'This investment will unlock significant growth opportunities for Deli Lites in this exciting sector. 'Increased capacity and new automated equipment will boost productivity and enable it to expand its fresh and frozen ranges, growing its sales in Britain and Ireland, and open up additional export markets. 'With 78% of our food and drink sold outside the North, this industry showcases the quality, innovation, and global appeal of what we produce right here at home. 'The creation of 130 new jobs in Warrenpoint, which will help leverage almost £10m in wages and salaries across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area by 2027, is also good news as we work to deliver a more regionally balanced economy.' Deli Lites was founded by husband and wife Brian and Jackie Reid in 1998. It makes sandwiches and other food-to-go products, with its customers including Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Applegreen and Costa Coffee. CEO Brian Reid said: 'We are now an all-Ireland business with export sales growing in international markets. 'We've always been a trailblazer in our sector, shown when we became the first sandwich maker in the UK and Ireland to achieve B Corp certification.' Jackie Reid, chief strategy officer, added: 'Bringing even more products to our snacking and convenience range and investing in production and automation will significantly increase our capacity and customer reach. 'We're delighted to be growing our team in Warrenpoint to bring further expertise into the business and help us achieve our vision, to transform how the world experiences food on the move.' Deli Lites' investment is being backed by Invest NI's Agri-Food Investment Initiative, a £46m scheme designed to 'support local agri-food and drink processors to improve competitiveness and productivity'. Gráinne Moody, director of food and drink at Invest NI, said: 'This significant project builds on our previous support for Deli Lites to develop its product range for the European market. Its success has positioned the company to become a key supplier for the global airlines sector. 'This new project will increase innovation and boost productivity by transforming labour-intensive processes and increasing digitalisation. Our overseas trade teams are also working with Deli Lites to explore new international markets as it grows.'
Scotsman
21-07-2025
- Scotsman
Sadness as famous name departs UK high streets
Yet that stalwart of British shopping, WHSmith, is disappearing from the nation's high streets for good. The stationery giant agreed earlier this year to sell its high street shops to the Hobbycraft owner, Modella Capital. The new owner is taking over around 480 stores with 5,000 staff but is rebranding the high street chain as TGJones - a name it said has the same 'sense of family' as WHSmith. WHSmith stores will continue to operate under the traditional name at airports and railway stores across the UK and abroad. Posting on Instagram on June 30, WHSmith said: 'After 200 years, today we say goodbye to our high street business. 'We're proud to have been a part of the UK high street, working alongside many fantastic colleagues. 'But today, we're a global travel retailer who serves customers on the go from stores across the world. So now is the right time for the high street business to move forward under new owners. 'A massive thank you to all our customers and colleagues for your support over the years. See you on your next journey soon! 'For all your books, stationery and gifting needs, make sure you follow and head to your nearest @tgjonesuk.' Customers have reacted to the news with great sadness. One person wrote: 'Thank you WHSmith for keeping me stocked up with school supplies as a child and books as an adult. You will be greatly missed!' Another person commented: 'It's a sad day. WHSmith played a big part of my childhood and getting my favourite magazines such as Jackie, Just Seventeen and Smash Hits. And a third person said: 'This is so sad! WHSmith was my window to another world! I would get all my mags from here, even recently before the one in Wolverhampton train station closed.' But another person pointed out that WHSmith had sold its high street stores 'whilst you retain the arm at airports and stations that charges £3 for a bar of chocolate that costs 80p everywhere else'. WHSmith was founded in 1792, with Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna opening the first shop on Little Grosvenor Street, in London. The first travel outlet opened at London's Euston railway station in 1848, and the firm now has more than 1,700 stores across more than 30 countries. These nostalgic photos look back WHSmith over the years in the UK, from early black and white photos to pictures of celebrity book signings and customers queueing for the latest Harry Potter books during the noughties. What are your memories of WHSmith and what do you think of another famous name disappearing from the UK's high streets? Let us know in the comments section. 1 . 80s computer A young boy looking at Acorn Electron computer and monitor in a WHSmith shop in Waterloo, London, in December 1984 | Getty Images Photo: Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive Photo Sales 2 . 1920s WH Smith & Sons, Isle of Wight, in around the 1920s | Getty Images Photo: Kirk and Sons of Cowes/Heritage Images Photo Sales 3 . Book signing Excited fans wait in the queue for Katie Price at her book signing at WHSmith in Lancaster | National World Photo: Garth Hamer Photo Sales 4 . Trevor Brooking The England and West Ham footballer Trevor Brooking signs books at WHSmith in Ilford in October 1981 | Getty Images Photo: Steve Rapport Photo Sales
